Method of using a lapidary machine

ABSTRACT

A method for shaping gemstones comprising the steps of placing a template in contact with a grinding wheel and locking against translational movement an element holding the template; removing the template from adjacent the grinding wheel and placing the template on the locked holding element at a position spaced from the grinding wheel; placing a guide plate in contact with the template and retaining the guide plate against movement; releasing the locked holding element and permitting movement of same toward and away from the grinding wheel and the retained guide plate; and setting a stone to be shaped in the position formerly occupied by the template.

United States Patent Lattauzio et al.

METHOD OF USING A LAPIDARY MACHINE Inventors: Alphonse J. Lattauzio, 4125 Hookheath Dr., El Paso, Tex. 79922; Claude W. Bowlin, PO. Box 156, Fairacres, N. Mex. 88033 Filed: Aug. 3, 1973 Appl. No.: 385,476

US. Cl. 51/229, 51/237 R, 51/101 R, 5l/229 Int. Cl...... B24b 1/00, B24b 9/16, B24b 19/08, B24b 19/22 Field of Search 51/229, 101 LG, 101 R, 5l/237 R, 283

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ponting 51/229 3,673,742 7/1972 Colbaugh 5l/l0l R Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Marc R. Davidson Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien;

Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A method for shaping gemstones comprising the steps of placing a template in contact with a grinding wheel and locking against translational movement an element holding the template; removing the template from adjacent the grinding wheel and placing the template on the locked holding element at a position spaced from the grinding wheel; placing a guide plate in contact with the template and retaining the guide plate against movement; releasing the locked holding element and permitting movement of same toward and away from the grinding wheel and the retained guide plate; and setting a stone to be shaped in the position formerly occupied by the template.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMI m5 SHEU 2 BF 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 5

7 Fig. 7

METHOD OF USING A LAPIDARY MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a device for and a method of shaping articles, and particularly to a lapidary machine for shaping gemstones, and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Devices are known which hold a gemstone, and the like, in a desired orientation relative to a grinding or polishing wheel during shaping and polishing operations. In particular, US. Pat. No. 1,998,642, issued Apr. 23, 1935 to E. C. Smith, shows a stone shaping device that has a stone and a template mounted on the ends of a shaft for rotation about a vertical axis. Slots in the bracket mounting the shift movement of the stone toward the grinding wheel in the horizontal plane, and adjustment of the mounting bracket relative to its support permits shaft movement transverse to the grinding wheel. The template is guided by an appropriate gauge affixed on the mounting bracket adjacent the template.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide lapidary apparatus that permits simple, efficient, and economical shaping of precious and semiprecious stones, and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide inexpensive lapidary apparatus that affords greater flexibility of applications than known devices, while maintaining desired accuracy.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a lapidary machine having: a longitudinal element arranged for mounting on ends thereof a stone to be lapped and a part of a template assembly for guiding the stone to a predetermined form, and a support assembly arranged for movably mounting the longitudinal element. Advantageously, the longitudinal element is movably mounted by the support assembly for at least rotative and translational movement with respect to the longitudinal extent of the element.

The support assembly may include a pair of spaced, parallel, codirectionally extending supports, at least one rail connected to and arranged extending between these supports, a carriage mounted on the rail for sliding movement therealong and arranged for mounting the longitudinal element for rotation about the longitudinal extent of same, and a screw, and the like, arranged for selectively locking the carriage against movement along the rail.

According to a modified embodiment of a lapidary machine according to the present invention, the longitudinal element is mounted by the support assembly for pivotal movement about the longitudinal extent of the element. In this embodiment, the part of the carriage on which the longitudinal element is mounted may be pivotally attached to another part of the carriage mounted on the rail, with the pivotally mounted, element attached part being arranged for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the rail.

The template assembly advantageously includes a template forming the part connected to the longitudinal element, and a guide plate assembly arranged for selectively contacting the template. This guide plate assembly may have a further carriage slidably arranged on the rail for movement therealong, a screw, and the like, arranged for selectively retaining the further carriage in a position along the extent of the rail, an arm connected to the further carriage and arranged extending therefrom, and a plate connected to the arm at a point spaced from the further carriage and arranged for selectively contacting the template mounted on the longitudinal, rotatively mounted element.

With a lapidary machine according to the present invention, gemstones, and the like, may be shaped by: placing a template in contact with a grinding wheel and locking an element holding the template against translational movement; removing the template from adjacent the grinding wheel and placing the template on the retained holding element at a position spaced from the grinding wheel; placing a guide plate in contact with the template and retaining the guide plate against movement; releasing the locked or retained holding element and permitting movement of same toward and away from the grinding wheel and the locked guide plate; and setting a stone to be lapped in the original position of the template adjacent the grinding wheel and forming the stone to the shape of the template by moving the template toward and against its associated guide plate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic, top plan view showing a lapidary machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing in detail a template and associated dop stick or similar element arranged for holding the template in a chuck, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a schematic, top plan view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified embodiment of a lapidary machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a lapidary machine 10 according to the present invention has a longitudinal element in the form of a rod 12 on one spaced end of which is mounted a stone I4, to be shaped, as by a conventional dop stick I6, and the like, selectively arranged in a conventional chuck 18. A template 20 is mounted on the other, spaced end of rod 12 as by a dop stick 22 and a conventional chuck 24, in a manner similar to the mounting of stone I4. It is to be understood that although conventional chucks 18 and 24 are illustrated as being used for mounting stone l4 and template 20 to rod 12, any suitable, known holding device may be used as desired. A wheel 26 is provided on rod 12 for permitting rotation of rod 12 in a conventional manner as by a hand H of an operator.

A support assembly 28 is arranged for movably mounting rod 12 for rotative and translational movement relative to the longitudinal extent of the rod 12. The support assembly 28 includes a pair of spaced, generally parallel, codirectionally extending supports, 30, and a pair of rails 32 connected to and arranged extending between supports 30. It is to be understood that although a pair of rails 32 is illustrated in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 in order to assure adequate rigidity of the device, only one rail 32 would suffice for machine to function. A carriage 34 is mounted on rails 32 for sliding movement therealong, and is arranged for mounting rod 12 for rotation about the longitudinal extent of same. A screw 36, for example, is provided on carriage 34 for selectively locking the carriage 34 against movement along rails 32. A hole 38 is provided in carriage 34 and is arranged for receiving a journal 40 in the form of a sleeve to which rod 12 is connected for rotation therewith as by suitable setscrews, and the like. Supports 30 are fixed to a base 42 as by feet 44 and, advantageously, a brace 46 arranged parallel to rails 32. In this manner, rod 12 is rigidly supported for providing a work holder suitable for lapidary and other shaping operations.

A conventional grinding wheel 48 is attached to the shaft of motor 50 in a known manner, and is arranged for selectively contacting a stone 14. Grinding wheel 48 is affixed relative to lapidary machine 10 as by the anchoring of motor 50 to base 42 in a conventional manner, such as the illustrated screw fasteners. Base 50 may be, for example, a sheet of plywood, and the like.

A guide plate assembly 5 2 is associated with template 20 for positioning the template relative to a predetermined shape of a stone 14. A carriage 54, similar to carriage 34, is slidably arranged on rails 32 for movement therealong. A conventional screw 56, and the like, may be used for retaining carriage 54 in a predetermined position along rails 32. An arm 58 is connected to carriage 54, and is arranged extending from the carriage in an adjustable manner, as by a, for example, setscrew 60. A plate 62 is connected to arm 58 at a point spaced from carriage 54 for selectively abutting template 20. It is to be understood that while plate 62 will be satisfactory for most applications of machine 10, specially configured abutment plates (not shown) may be substituted for planar plate 62 in order to achieve, for example, specially shaped stones 14, and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawings, a lapidary machine 64 is illustrated in which rod 12 is mounted on an associated support assembly for pivotal movement in addition to its rotational and translational movement. Toward this end, rod 12 is rotatably mounted on a carriage 66 having a plurality of parts, one part 68 of which is pivotally mounted to the other parts for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to rails 32, and which rotatably journals shaft 20. An extension of part 68 may be provided for mounting thereon a conventional motor 72, which may be, for example, an electric motor, so as to have a pinion 74 mounted on the shaft of the motor mesh with a gear 76 mounted on shaft 12 for rotation therewith. In this manner, shaft 12 may be slowly rotated so as to eliminate the need for the hand rotation illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Parts 78 are mounted on rails 32 for sliding movement therealong, and pivotally receive trundles extending from spaced sides of part 68 and into recesses formed in parts 78.

The swivel or pivoting feature of the carriage 66 assures easy, quick adjustment of arm 12 and enhances the safety feature of the device. It is to be understood that suitable safety guards and shields (not shown) could be arranged about machines 10 and 64 as considered necessary and desirable.

When shaping gemstones, and the like, with a machine 10, 64 according to the present invention, template 20 is first placed in contact with grinding wheel 48 and retained in that position against wheel 48 by preventing translational movement of rod 12. This may be achieved by locking the associated carriage 34, 66 against movement along rails 32. Now template 20 may be removed from its position adjacent wheel 48 and placed on rod 12 by clamping it in chuck 24 so that the template is now in a position spaced from grinding wheel 48. Then guide plate 62 may be placed in contact with template 20 and retained against movement as by locking carriage 54 against movement along rails 32. Carriage 34, 66 may now be released as by unlocking same and permitting it to move along rails 32 toward and away from grinding wheel 48 and the locked guide plate 62. A stone 14 may now be clamped in chuck l8 and shaped by moving it into wheel 48 until template 20 engages plate 62. Rotation of rod 12 will result in stone 14 being conformed to the shape of template 20. Although a conventional hemispherical configuration has been given the template 20 illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that any suitable configuration may be given to the template. Stones 14 are held on their associated dop stick 16 in a conventional manner as by using a suitable dopping cement, and the like.

An angular velocity of, for example, 25 revolutions per minute has been found satisfactory for the rotation of rod 12 when turned by a motor 72 such as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7. The use of such a motor 72 speeds up the shaping of a stone 14, and is specifically intended for commercial applications.

Advantageously, the tips or outer ends of both chucks 18 and 24 are equidistant from carriages 34 and 66. This arrangement will achieve excellent balance and ensure, assuming the distance from the tip of the chucks to the stone and template are the same, a stone 14 being shaped to the same size as template 20. Thus,, by merely using different size templates, stones of almost any size may be shaped.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

We claim:

1. A method for shaping gemstones comprising the steps of:

a. placing a template in contact with a grinding wheel and locking against translational movement an element holding the template;

b. removing the template from adjacent the grinding wheel and placing the template on the locked holding element at a position spaced from the grining wheel;

c. placing a guide plate in contact with the template and retaining the guide plate against movement;

d. releasing the locked holding element and permitting movement of same toward and away from the grinding wheel and the retained guide plate; and

e. setting a stone to be shaped in step (a) position of the template. 

1. A method for shaping gemstones comprising the steps of: a. placing a template in contact with a grinding wheel and locking against translational movement an element holding the template; b. removing the template from adjacent the grinding wheel and placing the template on the locked holding element at a position spaced from the grining wheel; c. placing a guide plate in contact with the template and retaining the guide plate against movement; d. releasing the locked holding element and permitting movement of same toward and away from the grinding wheel and the retained guide plate; and e. setting a stone to be shaped in step (a) position of the template. 